Alphabe Thursday – A is for Aisle

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Jenny Matlock

On Saturday 10th September 2011 I will be getting married to my wonderful fiance, David. We were due to get married in August 2010 but Esther and William had other ideas and were born in the July. We have been waiting a long time for our special day and now it is almost here. Just over 4 months to go and we have so much to do!!

Over the coming months I am going to use the blog to document our preparations and try to gain some feedback about our ideas. It s going to be my notepad, my sketchbook, my mood board!

Each week, on Alphabe Thursday, I will zoom in on one particular part of the planning or day. Today is A for aisle and I want to talk about making an entrance!

Being the amateur actress that I am I like to make an entrance. On our wedding day I want that magical moment of appearing in my dress, walking slowly down the aisle and David turning, our eyes meeting and us just knowing instantly that this is it, we are going to be wed, this is meant to be. For me the soundtrack to that moment needs to be just right and so I have deliberated for a long time about what music should be playing that sets the tone for this and the rest of the day.

Walking down the aisle requires three songs; the bridesmaids entrance, the entrance of the bride and the celebration at the end as the bride and groom leave the church as husband and wife.

Ever since I was a little girl on the way to family weddings we have sung a certain song, I particularly remember singing it on a minibus on the way to my cousin Andrew’s wedding many moons ago. It is upbeat and girly and perfect for the entrance of the girls.

The bridesmaids will make their entrance to The Dixie Cups – Going to the Chapel of Love. I hope that it will make people smile and start the day with a sense of fun, showing how we mean to go on.

When I make my entrance I want the mood to change slightly. Getting married is a huge thing, the bride makes a massive effort to look her best for her new husband, also feels vulnerable as everyone there turns to see if her efforts have paid off. This song has to be right as the bride steps into the view of all her family and friends. For this moment, my moment, I have chosen a song by an amazing band, REM – At My Most Beautiful. This songs makes all my hairs stand on end and I know will bring a tear to my eye on the day, and that is how I know it is right for me to have this song as the last before I am wed, to send me on my way down the aisle to a new name. a new husband, a new life.

I’ve found a way to make you smile!!

At the end of the ceremony is celebration of a new bond between a brand new husband and wife. It had to be an explosion of music that lifted the spirits and released the emotion of the service into a smile. For David and I it can only be U2 and it has to be Elevation! Woo-Hoo!

This song will play out loud as we leave the church and the party begins to celebrate the arrival of the newest Mr and Mrs Henley! I can’t wait!

What music did you have when you walked up the aisle? What music would you choose to mark a special celebration?

Music can make or break day and I know that it will play a huge part in ours. It makes me excited now!! Woo-Hoo!!

Please come back next Alphabe Thursday when I will be talking bouquets and buttonholes!!!

22 thoughts on “Alphabe Thursday – A is for Aisle

  1. Sounds fab! We had the traditional music for entrance/exit in church. But for us a big song was our first dance which was Andy Williams Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You. This used to be played as the last song of the night every Wednesday night at the student union when we were at Uni (where we met 10 years ago). Weds afternoons were sports matches so Nick had always played rugby, then been drinking with the lads but by the last dance he would always have come to find me for a smooch!! It really is ‘our’ song and everyone at the wedding who went to Uni with us just knew that would be the song!
    At the end we had Angels by Robbie Williams which is a favourite of both of ours (we have seem him in concert) and also ‘I’ve had the time of my life’ which I thought was just perfect!
    Happy memories x

  2. What a wonderful musical ceremony you are planning! I am looking forward to reading more about it! I think it is cool that you are including your own song choices in some non-traditional areas of the wedding!

  3. My step daughter walked down the aisle to a “Flogging Molly” song. I’m not a fan, but the lyrics were something about spending his life waking up next to her.

    It really worked and was perfect for this unorthodox wedding…

    loved it..

    Let us know what you decide!!!!

  4. What fun you are having planning your wedding. It should be just as you want it and the songs should be meaningful to you. It sounds wonderful! I look forward to reading all your other plans!

    My middle son got married last May to his sweetheart of six years. It was the loveliest event and one filled with so much joy. They planned and paid for it all themselves and it was held outdoors at a California winery near their home. The food was fabulous, the flowers were lovely and I was thrilled with it all.

    My Alphabe Thursday is at:

    http://rnsane.blogspot.com/2011/04/alphabe-thursday-is-for-awful-april-21.html#links

  5. These look like a great mix of wonderful songs. The one song I remember from our wedding a long 18 years ago was the first song we danced to. Like you we decided to choose fun over romantic to begin the festivities and we danced to The moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie… That’s amore! Still makes me smile.
    Dana

  6. Great choice of songs and I’m sure that your day will be perfect. What I can tell you of my day is that I did not hear a single tune played (by the harpist) because the only senses I was using were my eyes that were fixed totally on my Husband-to-be’s face!!! I don’t even recall hearing the songs as we left, I was so caught up in the moment of it all I think there could have been just me and my new Husband in the room for all the attention I gave to anything else!

  7. I’m so glad you are doing this too and what a brilliant theme to choose.
    Love your choice of music and can’t wait to ehar the rest of your ideas, Paul and I are still to tie the know officially and will do at some point, so all of this is really interesting

    • Yes thank you, I found it through you. Need to comment on the other posts through the week. There is such a variety to read I am going to enjoy learning new things and meeting new people x

  8. Oh hooray! A bridal Alphabet! I’m excited.

    This was wonderful. My first marriage was so horrific and so long ago that I don’t remember what was played. My second marriage had a classical guitarist playing in a small room filled with our joined families and friends.

    Your choices are so perfect! And I’m excited that you have so much to look forward to.

    What a wonderful time…and a wonderful way to record the details of this magical day. You can turn these posts into a book when you’re done!

    I can’t wait to read your B post!

    Thanks for linking.

    A+

  9. Pingback: Listography – Wedding Wish List « Edspire (Esther and William in the World)

  10. Those photos at the end of your post are beautiful and your dress and your choice of sunflower certainly have a wow factor. I hope your day went according to plan and your song choices are fab. I have never been married so have not had to plan these sorts of things but I can imagine how muxh fun it is x

  11. They are fabulous choices! We had a traditional wedding in my inlaws church and could only have the traditional wedding marches but I still loved walking down the aisle. I was not nervous at all, I was so happy!

    xx

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